US defense industry giant Raytheon said that the US government authorized its allies to purchase missile defense radars for use in forward-based mode for early threat detection. The US government authorized its allies to purchase missile defense radars for use in forward-based mode for early threat detection, US defense industry giant Raytheon said in a press release on Monday.

"The US government has authorized several US allies and security partners to potentially purchase via Foreign Military Sales the Raytheon-made AN/TPY-2 ballistic missile defense radar, for use in forward-based mode," the release stated.

In forward-based mode, the release explained, the transportable radar system is positioned near hostile territory so it can detect ballistic missiles in the ascent phase shortly after they are launched.

The AN/TPY-2 will allow US allies to enhance defensive capabilities and improve the performance of existing capabilities such as the Patriot air defense system, the release said.

Raytheon's announcement comes as senior US officials are reportedly contemplating potential responses to alleged Russian violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

The Cold War-era INF Treaty prohibits testing, possessing or producing medium-range ground-based cruise and nuclear missiles.

The United States has accused Russia of conducting test flights of cruise missiles in violation of the Cold War-era INF Treaty. The Treaty prohibits testing, possessing or producing medium-range ground-based cruise and nuclear missiles.

One of the options US officials are considering is to deploy missiles to Europe to defend against any advantage Russia might gain from a ground-based system, or a more aggressive "counterforce" of ground-based strategic weapons or cruise missiles.

Russia claims NATO's ballistic missile defense and the US use of certain drones are a violation of the INF treaty.

Source: Sputnik News